NANKANA SAHIB City News

Two PML-N workers injured in NA-137 attack
Overall turnout in Nankana by-polls was over 35%
From Our Correspondent
NANKANA SAHIB: Polling was held in NA-137, Nankana Sahib, on Sunday as ten candidates flexed their muscles for seat that fell vacant following the demise of Rai Mansab Ali Khan of PML-N.
Pace of polling was slow till 2pm but later gained momentum with the initial estimates suggesting that the total turnout remained over 35 per cent. The unofficial results were expected to be announced midnight as counting was in progress till the filing of this report.
The main contestants were Shuzra Mansab (daughter of late Rai Mansab) of PML-N,
Brig (r) Ijaz Shah - an independent candidate backed by the PTI - and PPP’s Rai Shah Jehan Bhatti.
The polling day passed peacefully; however, clashes were also reported from some places, as the supporters of a party allegedly seriously injured PML-N workers Sabtain and his brother Hasnain with a sharp-edged weapon at Chak No 10. The injured were shifted to DHQ Hospital Nankana, where Sabtain was reportedly in a critical condition.
Moreover, the polling process remained suspended at Chak No 4 after a clash between rival groups.
Also, the Christian community boycotted polling after the Lahore bombings, as the residents of Youngsinabad and Martinpur villages blocked Nankana-Shahkot Road. They burnt tyres and chanted slogans against the government.
Parliamentary Secretary for Information and Culture Rana Muhammad Arshad and Shezra Mansab reached the spot to convince them. But the protesters forced them to leave the place, whereas the Christian community also protested in the city by blocking the Church Road. Later, they took out a rally and protested outside the press club.
On the other hand,
Whereas the polling agents Bhatti and Ijaz alleged that the presiding officer of Polling Station No 80 (Govt Girls Primary School No 1 Nankana) forced them to sign the results in advance. It was also reported that ballot papers were stamped openly at one polling both of Govt Girls Degree College Nankana.
There were 256 polling stations in the constituency which had 287,719 voters. The polling continued from 8am to 5pm without any interval. Forty-eight polling stations were declared as most sensitive where close circuit cameras had been installed. As many as 1,240 policemen had been deputed to main law and order situation, while six vehicles of Rangers patrolled the area. Furthermore, two companies each of army and Rangers remained on standby.
It is pertinent to mention that many PML-N parliamentarians remained busy in visiting polling stations with official protocol and private gunmen.